Rachel Dove-Baldwin
Staff Writer
WILLIAMSON - “I want to make a difference, I want to contribute to the progress of the health and welfare of the Tug Valley community,” stated Dr. Raj K. Shrestha, an Internal Medicine Specialist associated with the Williamson Memorial Hospital (WMH), who opened his office at 213 Logan Street recently in the former location of Dr. Brian Francis.
Hailing from the Dominican Republic of Nepal, in South Asia, the physician told the Daily News that when he interviewed for the position with WMH, he loved the feeling of a close-knit community where you are greeted with a friendly smile and a hello.
“It reminded me of home, and that was very important to me and my family,” remarked Dr. Shrestha, who relocated to the area with his wife and 2 year-old daughter.
The Internal Medicine Specialist graduated from medical school in his native country in 2002 and practiced for a period of 5 years before deciding to further his education in the field of Internal Medicine. He reached this goal in 2012 and began applying for positions across the United States, after spending time in New Jersey.
“There was not a question that I would come to the United States, this is the best country in the world for opportunity to practice medicine,” stated the physician. “And after interviewing here in Williamson, there was no doubt where I wanted to open an office. It was a big change for us from our place of residency in New Jersey, but a very welcome change. I really enjoy the personality of the people here; I like their open and friendly nature.”
“I want to be here for the long haul, I don’t want to work in and serve this community for 3-4 years and then leave and move on,” remarked Dr. Shrestha. “That’s a waste of time for everyone involved. If all goes well and I get my wish, I’ll be here for many years to come.”
The physician sees patients on Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and on Fridays from 8:30 until noon. Appointments are encouraged but walk-in’s are accepted.
The physician is an advocate for kicking the smoking habit, and stated that he feels this is an important task to address in the Tug Valley area. He remarked that there are several tried and true methods that allow for the least amount of discomfort and withdrawal symptoms possible for those attempting to quit smoking, and said that he believes that to be the key for success. Dr. Shrestha plans to become involved in support groups and one-on-one treatment plans for his patients who are interested in becoming healthier and wish to quit smoking, among other health related concerns.
“We have a lot of patents in this area who suffer from lung and heart disease,” stated the doctor. “I’m optimistic that in time, we can decrease those numbers.”
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shrestha, you may contact his office by calling 304-236-5924. A member of his staff will be happy to assist you with your needs and will also answer any questions you may have about the physician’s field of expertise.
My dad smoked cigarettes all his life (2 packs every day for more than 40 years) and has been admitted to different hospitals numerous times for COPD.
Dr Shrestha was his doctor during this admission. Due to his excellent counselling abilities with numerous examples, not only my dad, everyone in the room was very much impressed. Most amazing, my dad is down to one pack per day in less than a month and is determined to quit. I can't believe my eyes.
Dr Shrestha rocks!
He handled my dad in the hospital with such compassion and professionalism, a mixture we don't often see.
I sincerely hope Dr Shrestha will remain in the community for a long period of time as he mentioned.
May god bless him and his family.
I went to see him in the office about a month ago.
He was very compassionate and kind. He is the first doctor who spent more than thirty minutes with me in years and was willing to listen to my problems.
I strongly recommend our folks to see Dr Shresta and thank him for coming to this "Wild and Wonderful" state.
Justus